USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Dover > Dover, N.H., its history and industries issued as an illustrated souvenir of...twenty-fifth anniversary of Foster's Daily Democrat, descriptive of the city and its manufacturing and business interests > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13
The present officers of the bank are Elisha R. Brown, President ; Ex-Governor Charles H. Sawyer, First Vice President ;. Colonel Samuel C. Fisher, Second Vice President ; Trustees, Elisha R. Brown, Ex- Governor Charles H. Sawyer, Colonel Samuel C. Fisher, John Holland, John H. Hurd, Hon. B. Frank Nealley, Colonel Daniel Hall, and A. G. Whittemore, Esq .; Executive Officer, Elisha R. Brown ; Treas- urer and Secretary, Albert O. Mathes.
The First (Congregational) Church.
This is the fifth and present house of worship of the First Church in Dover. Two hundred and sixty-five years ago, in October, 1633, Rev. William Leverich, a graduate of Emmanuel College, Cam- bridge, England, began preaching in the settlement at Hilton's Point on Dover Neck, and the First Parish may be said to date from that event. During his ministry of about two years, the first meeting-house was erected. In Decem- ber, 1638, Rev. Hanserd Knollys, the third minister of the First Parish, organ- ized the First Church. A generation later, the second meeting-house was erected on the well known site where are to be seen at the present time remnants of the ancient fortification. During more
I
-
1
·
DOVER 1623-1898
IOI
than half a century the church worshipped in that fortified meeting-house ; then, moving still further north, made its third home, during almost another half century, on Pine Hill. The fourth house of wor- ship stood upon the site of the present one, and opened its doors to the congre- gation in 1758. The present meeting- house was dedicated December 31, 1829, and a half century later, after undergoing a radical reconstruction at an expense of about twenty-three thousand dollars, was rededicated on Thanksgiving evening, November 28, 1878. A large and convenient chapel, con- necting with the church in the rear, and costing over thirteen thousand dol- lars, was dedi- cated in April 1 889. This ancient church, the oldest in New Hampshire, stands for spiritual life, and liberty, and progress, for all that is true and good. In pa- triotic devo- tion its influ- ence has been marked since the days when Jeremy Belknap did so much to inspire and guide the Revolu- tion. In missionary zeal and work this church takes a leading position. One of its honored pastors said on the occasion of the two hundred and fiftieth anniver- sary of the First Parish, "The church so feebly born has strengthened its stakes and enlarged its borders, untouched by time, asserting itself with an ever-clearer utterance in the community and state, more vigorous and strong in every last
אומוות "יוון
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
stage of its growth, and, like the tree planted by the ever-running waters, ' bringing forth fruit in old age.' But its prolific life has not been kept within itself. This church has been rightly called a ' mother church.' She has established from her membership nearly every ' Con- gregational church in this vicinity, and strengthened from it almost every Con- gregational church in the state. And more than this, she has sent forth from her inexhaustible loins children who have built up, even in her very presence, churches o f other or - ders."
REV. GEORGE E. HALL, D. D.
George Edward Hall, D. D., pastor of the First . church in Dover, was born in Ja- maica, West Indies, Feb- ruary 23, 1851, son of the Reverend Heman B. and Sophro- nia (Brooks) Hall. In the 1. paternal line he traces his descent from John Hall of Medford, Massachusetts, who was born in England in 1627. He was fitted for college at the preparatory school in (berlin, Ohio, and graduated from Oberlin College in 1872, beginning the study of theology in Yale Divinity school in that year, and graduat- ing in 1875. He was ordained pastor of the Congregational church in Littleton, Massachusetts, September 2, 1875, resign- ing that pastorate March 1, 1877, to ac- cept a call to the Congregational church in Vergennes, Vermont, where he was in-
T
IO2
DOVER 1623-1898
stalled May 2, 1877. His pastorate in Vergennes was highly successful, but he resigned in October, 1883, to accept a call to Dover, and was installed over the First church on January 2, 1884. Dr. Hall is the twenty-third on the roll of pastors of this historical church. His pastorate of more than fourteen years, continuing with unabated strength, has been very success- ful and happy. In January of 1895, the church voted Dr. Hall six months' vaca- tion to visit Egypt and the Holy Land, and a further man- ifestation of regard was a testimonial by voluntary gifts of eight hundred dol- lars, present- ed to him on the eve of his departure. Mr. Hall has been five times a mem- ber of the National Council ('T'ri- ennial) of Congrega - tionalchurch- es. He is a Trustee and one of the Executive Committee of the New Hampshire Home Mis- sionary Soci- ety. He is a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. He received the de- gree of Doctor of Divinity from Dart- mouth College in 1893. He is a member of the School Committee of Dover. He has been for five years chaplain of the First Regiment New Hampshire National Guard. He holds membership in the Winthrop club of Boston and the Monday
REV. GEORGE E. HALL, D. D.
club of Boston. Mr. Hall was married June 20, 1877, to Alice Monroe, daughter of the late James Monroe Peabody of Lowell, Massachusetts. Mrs. Hall died April 6, 1883, leaving two children, Alice Miriam and Henry Monroe. Mr. Hall married April 16, 1890, Elizabeth Knee- land, daughter of the late William McFar- land of Salem, Massachusetts, whose father was the Rev. Asa McFarland, D. D., of Concord. £ They have two children, John McFarland and George William Hall.
St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church.
From the establishment of the " First Church " in 1638 noother * church exist- ed in Dover though there was " Soci- e ty" o f Friends, till the introduc- tion of Meth- odism. In 1819, the first Methodist meetings for worship were held at a small village which then existed some two miles up the river from the
present city proper, called the Upper Factory, where was located a small manufacturing establishment. Rev. John Lord, afterward a prominent minister in Maine, then traveling on the Rochester Circuit, visited this village in 1819 and preached to the people and organized a " class" and a Sunday school. The late venerable Solomon Gray and the late George W. Wendell of Somersworth, then
1
· DOVER 1623-1898
103
resided at the Upper Factory and were pioneers of Methodism in Dover.
From this begin- ning in 1819 to 1823 when Dover was made a separate charge the records are very mea- gre. The first preach- ing at the village was in the old Court House. Rev. Jotham Horton was the first regularly stationed preacher at Dover.
As the work grew, it became evident that better accommoda- tions were needed, and measures were taken in 1824,-Mr. Horton's second year, -for the erection of a house of worship. A lot of land (that on which the present house stands), was procured of the heirs of the cel- ebrated Major Richard Wal- dron, whose grave is in the immediate vi- cinity. The committee ap- pointed to con- duct the build- ing enterprise were among the most sub- stantial citi- zens. They were Dr. Jos- eph Smith, Robert Rogers, George Piper, William Pal- mer, Jeremy H. Titcomb, Lewis B. Tibbetts, and Rev. Jotham Horton, the pastor. The first Board of Trustees were Joseph Smith,
REV. DR. BABCOCK.
أَفْسِيْا
ST. JOHN'S METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Lewis B. Tibbetts, Barnabus H. Palmer, Richard Walker, George Piper, Geo. W. Edgerly, and Theodore Littlefield. No one of these is now living. This church answered its purpose very well till when in 1828 an ad- dition was built on the rear end, of sixteen and one-half feet. This church has always been a vigorous body, and has been served by some of the ablest min- isters of the denomina- tion. The present church edifice was erec- ted on the site of the original one, in 1875. It cost without the lot about $40,000. That includes the organ and the chime of nine bells. Its seating capacity is about one thousand. From the be- ginning this church has al- ways main - tained a vigor- ous Sunday school. The . present pastor is Rev. D. C. Babcock, D.D.
REV. D. C. BABCOCK, D.D.
Rev. Dan- iel Clark Bab- cock, D. I)., was born in Blandford, Mass., May 31st, 1835. His father, Russell Bab- cock, and his mother, Susan A. (Clark) were natives of So. Kingston, R. I. He was the second of four sons, but
1
104
DOVER 1623-1898
is now the only member of the family liv- ing. His mother died when he was nine years of age and his father before he was twenty. 'The youngest brother died in in- fancy. The oldest was lost at sea when a young man, and the other died in Phila- delphia, Pa., in 1887.
Mr. B. took his academic training in the East Douglas, Mass., High School, at the Providence Conference Seminary, East Greenwich, R. I., and at the Vermont Conference Seminary, then at Newbury, now at Montpelier. He graduated from the school of theo logy cf the Boston University, then at Con- cord, N. H., in June, 1 864. The Honor- ary Degree- Doctor of Di- vinity, was conferred by the American Temperance University in 1896.
Mr. B. joined the New Hamp- shire Confer- ence of the Methodist Episcopal church in April, 1861, having served four years pri- or to that as " Local a Preacher." He served as pastor in the following order, at Bow, Fisherville, now Penacook, Salem Depot, High Street, Great Falls, now Somersworth, Claremont, St. Paul's, Manchester, and Chestnut St., Nashua. While at Nashua he was G. C. T. of the Good Templars of New Hamp- shire.
As the result of over work he found rest a necessity, and took a nominal ap- pointment after one year at Nashua, spending much of the year in traveling.
During that year he was elected Corre- sponding Secretary of the Pennsylvania Temperance Union, and entered that field in March, 1872, with headquarters in Philadelphia. He served in that ca- pacity until May, 1888. During the last eight years of that period he was also District Secretary of the National Tem- perance Society and Publication House.
Mr. B. returned to pastoral work in the spring of 1888, and has served at Clare- mont, Lancaster and Whitefield. In April, 1896, he consented to give a year to the field work of the Law and Order League of New Hamp- : shire, of which he is Sec-Treas. He was ap- pointed pastor of St. John's church, Dover, in April, 1897, by Bishop W: X Ninde, and for a second year in April, 1898, by Bish- op W. F. Mal- lalieu.
PIERCE MEMORIAL CHURCH (UNIVERSALIST).
He united in marriage . with Miss Clara A. Parkman of Sutton, Mass., in April, 1860. They have two daughters, Miss Susie Parkman, who is with them, and Mrs. Mary A., wife of Rev. J. Roy Dinsmore, pastor at North Haverhill, N. H.
Peirce Memorial Church. ( UNIVERSALIST).
The Universalist Church, knownas the Peirce Memorial, on Central avenue, was organized in 1837.
There was preaching of Universalism in Dover some years previous to that date. At first the society worshipped in a hall.
٢
1
DOVER 1623-1898
105
About 1838 a church edifice was built by the society on Third street. The build- ing was enlarged in 1847.
This was the place of worship until about 1880 when the church was sold for business purposes. In 1883 the present substantial and beautiful brick edifice was dedicated. The building, costing $30,000, was the gift of Thomas W. Peirce in memory of his parents.
Since the present society was reorgan- ized in 1883, these pastors have been set- tled. Rev. S. H. McCollester, I). D., Rev. Walter Scott Vail, Rev. Fred W. Dillingham, Rev. Royal T. Sawyer, and Rev. Ezra Almon Hoyt the present pastor, who began his work in this city in 1891.
REV. E. A. HOYT.
Rev. Ezra Almon Hoyt, pastor of Peirce Memorial Church, was born in Hanover, Maine, October 31, 1855. His boyhood and youth were spent on a farm. His early education was in the district school. When eighteen years old he went to the village school for the first time. From that time his real education dat- ed. Teaching school in winter he earned money to attend He- bron Academy and Westbrook Seminary, from which he grad- uated in 1878. In the fall of that year he entered 'T'ufts College, graduating with class of '82. He was ordained to the ministry at Thompsonville, Conn. His pastorates since ordination have been in Skowhegan, Maine, St. Johnsbury, Ver- mont, and his present pastorate in Dover, which began in 1891.
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
Mass was first said in Dover in the winter of 1826 by Rev. Virgil H. Barber,
REV. E. A. HOYT.
S. J. Among the prominent pioneer Catholics in Dover were William Ashcroft, John Burns, Francis G. O'Neill, Philip F. Scanlan, and Wm. McDevitt.
Services were first held in the Court House. May 17, 1828, the corner stone of the first Catholic church was laid and was completed and accepted in June, 1829. It cost $2800. The church was consecrated September 26, 1830, by Rt. Rev. Dr. Dominick Fenwick of Boston. The rapid growth of the church demand- ed a more commodious edifice and in 1872 the present building was completed. The first regular pastor of the church was Rev. Father French, in 1827, who remained two years after the erection of the first church edifice, and was succeeded by Rev. Father Lee, M. D., D. D. He re- mained three years and was followed by Rev. Father McNamee, M. D., D. D. He offici- ated until 1839 and was succeeded by Rev. Father Conovan, who stayed until 1855. Father McShane came next, succeeded by Father Brady. Next came Father Niccolo, who was followed by Father Drummond, assisted by the Rev. Father Blodgett, a con- vert, who was given full charge of the parish before he had been here a year, on account of the feebleness of Father Drummond.
Father Blodgett was one of the most able and enterprising priests that ever presided over this parish. It was through him that the New Hampshire House prop- erty and the new Catholic cemetery were secured, and had he lived, he would have erected upon this property one of the finest churches in the State. Father Blodgett died May 15, 1881, and was the first priest to be buried in Dover. Rev. Father Murphy succeeded and was soon
200.0)
wl
الجار حـ
-
I06
DOVER 1623-1898
given the entire charge of the parish.
REV. DANIEL W. MURPHY.
Father Murphy assumed the charge of St. Mary's parish in 1881. He was born in Liscarroll, Ireland, Nov. 24, 1838, studied at the classical school of Charle- ville and at the college of Middleton, and took his philosophical and part of his the- ological courses at All Hallows, finishing his studies for the priesthood in the Grand Seminary of Montreal. He was ordained in Portland, Aug. 21, 1861, by Bishop Bacon. After serving a short time as assist- ant at the Port- land cathedral, he was made pastor of Houl- ton, Maine, at the end of 1861 coming to take temporary charge of Dover in 1862, and re- turning to Houlton after a few months,
where he organ- ized a school. While in that charge, he at- tended . Bene- dicta. He be- came pastor of Bath, Maine, in 1864, and while there built a new rectory, and established a school. In October, 1865, he was transferred to
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Portsmouth.
He went to Keene in 1869, to which parish twenty-one out - missions were then attached. He built a rectory and remodeled the church in Keene, built churches at Peterboro and Ashuelot, bought the Episcopal church in Walpole, and instituted church-building funds in Claremont and Charlestown. In 1877, he was appointed pastor of Augusta, Maine, and while there enlarged the Augusta church and built a church in Hallowell.
From Augusta he removed to Dover.
In the September of his first year here Father Murphy began erecting, on the lot purchased by Father Blodgett, the Sacred Heart School (for girls), opening it in 1883, under a community of the Sisters of Mercy from Manchester, and remodel- ing for convent uses the large building which stood on the property ; and, during the latter year, he also virtually rebuilt the rectory, adding the present front, deepen- ing the building by thirty-five feet, and putting on a Mansard roof, the expense of the improve- ment being $6,000. In 1884 he frescoed the church, furnished it with new gas fixtures and steam heating apparatus, and erected three new altars. Three years later, he purchased an es- tate on Court street, convert- ing the house which stood thereon into an orphanage ; in 1888, he built St. Joseph's School (for boys) on Centralavenue putting it at first in charge of the Sisters of Mercy ; during the fol- lowing year he secured as teach-
ers of the boys a band of Christian Broth- ers ; and in 1890 he erected a fine resi- dence for the Brothers, and put stained- glass windows into the church. In 1891, he built the church tower, hanging there- in a fine bell. In 1892, the county au- thorities entrusted to Father Murphy's care all the little Catholic girls of the county farm ; and he was obliged, conse- quently, to enlarge the orphanage, this enterprise costing $5,000. Later, two houses, on the same square with the
£
pasail len
DOVER 1623-1898
107
Sacred Heart School, were bequeathed to the parish for the benefit of the orphan- age. Father Murphy has been a member of the Bishop's council since the organi- zation of the diocese ; and he is also a per- manent rector.
St. Mary's parish, with its splendid de- velopment, has no debt ; and, in point of organization, it is one of the best parishes in New England.
PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.
St. Joseph's School, under the instruc- tion of four Christian Brothers (Brother Jerome, supe- rior), has 230 boys on its rolls, besides a c commodat- ing the young- er girls who live in the northwestern part of the city and who are taught by two Sisters of Mer- cy. The school and the Brothers' house are on a splendid lot, the former building being well arranged, containing six class-rooms, and showing a brick base - ment and an open cupola.
REV. FATHER MURPHY.
The Sacred Heart School is located on Church street.
Its lowest story is of brick, the other two being of wood. Its exterior is tastefully ornamented, the ba- rocco work under the eaves being espec- ially praiseworthy. It contains eleven rooms and a recitation hallway, every class having its own cloak-room. A pa- rochial library is in this building. The school is heated by steam, is furnished with hot and cold air ventilators, and is well lighted. Fifteen Sisters of Mercy (Mother Fidelis, superior ) from the Man-
chester mother-house, teach 415 girls, instructing also, up to the fourth grade, the boys who live in the southern section of the city. In the grammar grades his- tory is treated topically, 'and diagram work is used in language analysis. A special course is given in vocal music. The high school curriculum, extending through three years, includes algebra, stenography, typewriting, literature, French, Church history, physics, civil gov- ernment, and bookkeeping (single and double entry). Both schools are of the very first order.
SACRED HEART CONVENT.
The Sacred Heart Convent fronting on Central avenue, is bright and commodious, every Sister having her own room ; and it has a pretty chapel, fur- nished with stain ed-glass windows, a tasteful altar, and chaste frescoing.
The orphan- age for girls is cared for by three Sisters of Mercy, and can be made to ac- commodate a hundred children. It is heated by steam, and is noticeable by reason of the neat- ness and sweetness of its dormitories. The orphans attend the Sisters' school.
The Central Avenue Baptist Church.
The church now known as the Central Avenue Baptist church, was constituted with thirteen members and recognized in the usual manner by a council on the twenty-third day of April, in the year of our : l.ord, one thousand eight hundred
IC
. ellطى بعد
108
DOVER 1623-1898
and twenty-eight. It was composed of persons who had been accustomed to worship with churches of the Baptist faith, but not finding those of their own belief and order in Dover, they took measures for the organization of a regular Baptist church. Of the thirteen persons who were active in this movement, seven were men and six were women. In March, 1828, Rev. Duncan Dunbar of New York was invited to preach to this body of Baptist friends, and as the result of a few Sundays' labor, three were baptized upon the pro- fession of their faith. The first meetings o f these breth- ren were held in the hall of a building which was at- tached to the block which now stands on Second street, familiarly known as the " Old Board- ing House," and which once stood on the spot now occupied by the brick block known as the Morrill Block. 'The first pastor, Rev. Elijah
CENTRAL AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.
Foster, was settled in October, 1829, and on the same day the present church edifice was dedi- cated to the worship of Almighty God, it having been erected largely by the ardu- ous and persistent labors of the pastor with the cheerful co-operation of all the members of the church. It is worthy of remark, as indicating the labors of the pastor of that day, that on the first Sun- day after the dedication of the church, he preached three sermons, baptized and gave the hand of fellowship to one new
convert, administered the Lord's Supper and joined a couple in the bands of wed- lock. Mr. Foster continued as pastor of the church till 1831, long enough to see it quite firmly established and increas- ing in numbers and spiritual strength through the faithful and earnest labors he made for it in its early days of weakness. From the year of its formation, now sev- enty years ago, to this present day, the church has maintained, through seasons of great trial as well as through seasons of great prosperity, a succession of godly ministers who have contrib- uted their share to the advancement of this city in all good words and works, and as it looks back and reviews the past it can well thank God and take courage. " ;
During the seventy years of the church's life, it has re- ceived into its fellowship nine hundred and twenty- two members. Its present membersh i p is two hun- dred and for- ty-four, and its pastor is the Rev. W. H. S. Hascall, 4 Ham street.
REV. W. H. S. HASCALL.
W. H. S. Hascall is a native of Rutland County, Vermont, but while he was still a lad his father moved to Durham, Me., where he resides, though the boy spent much of his time in the city of Portland at the home of an uncle whose namesake he was. In addition to his other studies, he learned the printer's trade, and was called
DOVER 1623-1898
109
by the American Baptist Missionary Union to assist in their large Publishing House in Rangoon, Burma. He was soon trans- ferred to the charge of the important sta- tion of Maulmain where the oversight of eighteen native churches, the direction of the evangelists and the supervision of several large schools, besides city and jungle preaching, devolved upon him. After eight years he returned to the United States for a period of rest, for a time serving as pastor of the Baptist church in Farmington, Me.
He returned with his family to Burma in 1883 and took charge of the Henzada mission until the Brit- ish occupation of Up- per Burma, when he was asked to found a new station in that dangerous locality . Land was purchased, mission buildings erect- ed and a small church gathered, when he was obliged on account of the severe illness of his entire family to relin- quish his work and re- turn to America. After spending a year in rest- ing and giving mission- ary addresses in various parts of the country he accepted a call to Fall River, Mass., where he remained six and one half years ; from thence coming to Dover in October, 1896.
REV. W. H. S. HASCALL.
St. Thomas' Episcopal Church.
The first services in Dover in accord- ance with the doctrine and ritual of the Protestant Episcopal church of America were held by Rev. Henry Blackaller of St. Paul's church, Great Falls in Feb., 1832. The permanent establishment of this church in Dover is not due entirely to or chiefly, however, to the efforts of Mr. Blackaller, but rather to the Rev. Thomas R. Lambert, D. D., who in 1839
began the regular services of the church in what was then Belknap school, a ·wooden building then situated on Church street. On Sept. 2, 1839, gentlemen in- terested in the formation of a church met in this schoolhouse and entered into an association for this purpose. On Dec. I, 1839, Rev. William Horton, before rector of Trinity church, Saco, became rector of St. Thomas' church. In 1840 a lot of land was bought on what is now the corner . of Central avenue and St. Thomas st. A church building was erected and finished January, 1841, at the cost of $5800. The first service was held in the new church January 17, 1841. The church was con- secrated by Bishop Griswold, March 17, 1841. In Aug., 1841, the parish consisted of sixty families and forty communicants. Rev. Mr. Horton resigned his rectorship Nov. 10, 1 847. The Rev. Thomas G. Salter be- came rector Dec. 12, 1847. In 1860 gas was put into the church and the church bell was hung. On July 1, 1861, Mr. Sal- ter resigned his rector- ship and Sept. 1, 1861, Rev. Edward M. Gushee became the rector. During our late civil war Mr. Gushee was chaplain of the Ninth New Hampshire Regiment, and in his absence Rev. Charles Wingate officiated as rector. Mr. Gushee resigned in April, 1864. On Dec. 1, 1864, the Rev. John W. Clark became the rector, but resigned Sept. 16, 1866. The follow- ing February, Rev. George G. Field was chosen rector. Mr. Field resigned Aug. 16, 1868. Rev. John B. Richmond be- came rector Nov. 8, 1868. During the rectorship of Mr. Richmond the church building was altered inside and out, and its seating capacity increased. Mr. Rich- mond resigned April 29, 1876, and the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.